The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-01
GoRDoN's GREAT WORK.
Utterances OF the South's Brilliant
Champion in Ohio.


COLUMBUS, o., Oct. 3i.-Gen. John Ii.
Gordon, of Georgia, addressed q political
meeting Mt the city hall tonight. A parade
of the local clubs preceded the meeting and
IL was about o o'clock before they reached
the hall and the speaking began. There
were over 5000 people present and more
than that many who could not gain admis-
sion. Gen. Gordon was guest at the resi-
dence Of Judge Allen Thurman, and with
the latter, in u carriage, was escorted to the
lace Of meeting Both were enthusiastical-
' received.
Gov. Gordon was Immediately introduced
and frequently cheered during the course Of
his speech Judge Thurman participated
freely in this part Of the demonstration. The
speaker began by referring To the telegram
which lac sent before coming, in answer TO
the communication Of the committee inyit-
| ing him to the State, and said he was not
| here for the purpose Of discussing either
| of the gentlemen who are candidates before
| the people, and that lac expected 10 return
| south without doing 80, lie assured them
| that should either candidate come 10 Georgia
| they wOuldbc met with open arms ns well ns
any other distinguished Democrat or Repub-
| lican. lie emphasized the point, saying that
| the sooner the barriers between the two
| States were broken down the sooner the citi-
zcns Of this and that State become ac-
| quaintcd with the views Of each
| other, the better IL would be for all.
| The speaker apparently felt called upon TO
defend himself against the criticisms Of the
press since his arrival IN the State, and pro-
cccded 20 do 50, claiming that his life Is an
open book, no page Of which lac was afraid
Ia have thoroughly inspected. In April,
| 1865, he had gathered around him the rem
nants IT the right Of Lees army at Apo
mattoN before the smoke had cleared away,
and told his comrades that the war was over.
| that the Union, country and flag were re-
stored and the President sustained. With
the parole OF that great captain, Grant
! la his pocket, lac went home 10 keep the
4 peace and obey the laws aud lac had done No.
| The impression had .gnined ground that the
| whole people Of the southern States were OPP
pressing the negroes II those States. II true,
| they deserved the contempt Of the people Of
| the north, and II not true there was great
wrong being done somewhere. lie expected
" meet this charge and prove II 10 be
| false, but he had no hope In diyerting the
| course ~ that class who excite passion for
| office ns II could not be done. Ii had been
| charged by leading Republican authority
that he was n leader among the kuklux
| khan. and that lac had never been recon
| Structed, but dcilcd the constitution and
I
10 all these charges the evidence Of n col
orcd Republican whom he pronounced the
ablcst cOlorcd man on the continent refer
ring Ia II. NJ. Turner, Of Georgia, bishop IL
| the NJ. T.. Church, aud editor Of the south
crn Recorder, the articles from which Sc.
lections were read being entitled "GOy Cor
don aud His Critics, aud was compliments
| ~ In tone 60 the Governor In many ways.
The speaker said many Republicans had
been miscd, aud led to believe that the col.
orcd people 81 the south were being tram
| Piled under foot, but the evidence which he
| had produced ought ~ he satisfactory. aud
would, except 10 that class who would will.
| ingly ride into office ON n sea Of black
mems blood. lie then entered further
into detail ~ answer the accusation Of
newspapers that hc had been connected
with the kukluN, saying he wished b. prove
himself clear. lie explained that lac be-
| lunrcd to private organization which was
| formed among the best citizens for the pro.
| lection II their homes and their families. This
was Tor the purpose Of protecting themselves
| against the men who had come among them
after the war The citizens, aud especially
| those who had held any character ~ office
under the Confcdcmcy, were disfranChisrd,
and the mas ~ Ignorant people were given
| the ballot and the result was that the offices
| the courts aud their entire protection were
| taken AWAY from them by the carpct-hagirrs
| lie claimed that this class had taken charge
OF the colurcd people In their ignorant con-
dition, and after having secured what they
wanted, the negroes discovered that they
had been imposed upon aud robbed, and
came a. the principles of right II
WINS under this condition Of things that
| the colorrd men were making the nights
| hidcous, aud had become n menace a. the
peace aud safety Of women aud children Of
| the country. Nothing he said, could give a
fair conception of the condition which PR
vailed. and Il was for defense against such n
state VI Affairs that the best elements Of the
people hal an understanding, though they
had no secret conclnvcs
The speaker next complimcntcd the Union
soldiers briefly, aud answered the charge
that hc was n scntimcntalisl by saying that n
number OF great men had been charged
similarly, aud he was therefore no cxCcp-
ton lie paid tribute tO Cleveland and
his administration. Referring 20 the south,
he said they might have started out wrong.
fully. but both sides were right In their con.
yiciions. and had the agreement made by
W, T. sherman and Joe Johnston been FOL.
lowed there would have been no solid south.
At the conclusion, Judge Thurman was
called out, aud said IL was no time for n
Columbus man tn speak. while Others better
were on hand. and Congressman Tim Tars-
ncy, Of Michigan, was introduced.